"They are getting better at younger and younger ages" - Tom Dumoulin fears youthful cycling elite may burn-out early

In the last few years, there has been a marked switch in the peloton's leadership with younger riders coming through and proving themselves amongst the elite. Former Giro d'Italia winner Tom Dumoulin however, has fears about the longevity of the new generation.

“You see that they are getting better at younger and younger ages," explains the now-retired Dumoulin in conversation with Wielerflits. "From the age of 15 or 16, these boys often receive the same guidance as the pros. It has become so calculated and structured in terms of training and nutrition. That knowledge was not available when I was sixteen. I didn't know how Michael Boogerd trained, but now every sixteen-year-old can watch Strava and copy what the pros do.”

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As mentioned though, Dumoulin also has concerns about the way cycling is going. “I wonder if that will burn them out," he says. "It would certainly burn me out, but they are different character types. I'm a bit of a free bird, an enthusiast. I enjoyed the adventure and the training, but not when the minute and wattage was specified. Another character type, like Remco Evenepoel, thinks that is fantastic. He also says: just write to me what I have to do and what I have to eat. Jonas Vingegaard also does exactly what the trainer says and he loves it, it benefits him. The younger generation is really raised with this and they find it normal.”

With these kinds of developments, Dumoulin is somewhat relieved he retired when he did. "That just doesn't fit with who I am and want to be,” he explains. “I think that especially for the older riders who are used to their own thing, they will be a little quicker to say: I'm good actually.”

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